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Sunday, November 28, 2021 |
One In-Person Worship Service at
10:00 a.m.
10:00 a.m. service will be live streamed
Call 888-969-5508 to listen to the service
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Watching and Waiting…
Do you remember being a child as your birthday became closer and closer? How about those weeks, which felt like months, as Christmas drew near?
We spend a good portion of our lives watching and waiting for so many things.
Advent is a time of watching and waiting, but watching and waiting for the Christ Child to enter our lives once more. How fulfilling this time of cherishing hope, peace, joy, and love is for us.
As you watch and wait this Advent, be on the lookout for Monday emails inviting you to a Quiet Spaces Meditation. Each Monday of this season may you find in these short, thoughtful and contemplative readings and harp music a time for reflection, song, and silence. And in so doing, perhaps you will encounter the One who offers us mercy, grace, forgiveness, and love.
Peace, my friends,
Patrick
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Sunday Worship
Sunday worship is at 10:00 a.m., in person and live streamed.
Live Telephone Worship
To listen to the worship service, simply call 888-969-5508 at 10:00 a.m. each Sunday. You will also be given an option of receiving a weekly call prior to each worship service. Please help us and pass this information along to any church member or community member who would benefit from this opportunity.
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Civil Rights and Racial Justice Trip — April 19-23, 2022
WHY are we going?
- To learn more deeply about our country’s history of racial terror in an effort to understand the ways that racism manifests itself today.
- To be on holy ground where Civil Rights activists risked (and many gave) their lives to move our country towards greater racial equity in many forms.
- To grow together in our personal and collective commitment towards antiracism within the Christian faith and in our community.
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To learn more about this trip, CLICK HERE.
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Presbyterian Women Life Membership Awards
A few weeks ago the Presbyterian Women held their Memorial Service and Life Membership Awards ceremony. The winners of the two awards were Lucy Kernodle and Candy McCall. You may read about each below:
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Educator Charlotte Nance-Allbright Recognized for Innovative Faith Formation
Charlotte Nance-Allbright, Director of Faith Formation and Christian Education at First Presbyterian in Burlington, was recently recognized in an article on the Presbyterian Mission Agency website for her innovative and creative approaches to Faith Formation at First, Burlington. Click here to read the article.
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FPC Facility Closed
The FPC facility will be closed on Thursday, November 25 and Friday, November 26 for the Thanksgiving holiday.
2021 Advent Devotionals
Devotionals will be available on Sunday, November 28. This year's devotional is "Close to Home" written and illustrated by A Sanctified Art. From the authors "When something hits close to home, it affects us deeply. During the Advent and Christmas season, we journey through scriptures and rituals that are tender, heavy with emotion, and vulnerable. We carry the memories and truths of this season close to our hearts. The Close to Home theme acknowledges the “already but not yet” tension of our faith: Emmanuel is with us, and yet, God’s promised day—our everlasting home—is not fully realized. It names our deep longing for God to come close to us.The Advent and Christmas scriptures are rich with home metaphors and imagery. In these scriptures, home is both physical and metaphorical, something we seek and something we are called to build. In many ways, these scriptures are like blueprints—detailing the dreams of a God who makes a home with us. Ultimately, God is our home and resting place. God draws near and makes a home on earth; sacred ground is all around us.
This Advent, may we be comforted by the One who dwells intimately with us. May we expand safety and sanctuary for everyone wandering far from home. May we come home—wherever home is found—to live fully with joy, hope, and courage. An electronic version of the Advent devotional will be emailed. A limited number of hard copies will be available for pick up in the Welcome Center or the table outside of the church office. Contact Charlotte Nance-Allbright (336-228-1703 x 223) to have a copy mailed to you.
Advent – A Time of Watching, Waiting, Planning, a Time of Cherishing Hope, Peace, Joy and Love
Quiet Spaces Meditations will come to you via email each Monday of Advent, beginning November 29, 2021 and ending December 27, 2021. These short, thoughtful, contemplative readings accompanied by the harp give each of us space and time to quieten ourselves during this busy season and focus on the birth and promise of the Christ Child, the Savior of the world. Begin your Advent weeks with meditative quiet moments as you travel the Advent journey to the manger.
Tuesday, November 30 Lunch at Brookwood
FPC staff will enjoy Lunch with the FPCB residents of the Village at Brookwood Tuesday, November 30 at noon in the private dining room.
Christmas Decorations
Poinsettias ($28 each) for use in the sanctuary may be ordered as memorial or honorary flowers. Contributions as memorials or honoraria may also be made to defray costs of wreaths for our church doors, lamp posts, sanctuary sconces, balcony garland, etc. Please submit checks made payable to First Presbyterian Church (marked Christmas Decorations) and the printable order form attached here to the Church Office or place your notated check and the order in the offering plate. The deadline to order is Tuesday, December 7.
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Annual Fruit Basket Delivery to Homebound Members, Saturday, December 4
The day will begin with a light breakfast and hot coffee in the Welcome Center at 9:00 a.m. Volunteers are needed for about an hour to deliver fruit baskets to church members who are not able to be with us on Sunday, but who faithfully remember the church. Baskets and recipient names may be picked up at the church between 9:30 and 10:00 a.m. at the black and white hall entrance. Please call the church office at 228-1703 if you are able to help deliver.
Alternative Giving is Just Around the Corner!
Beginning December 5 at 9:00 a.m. in the Witherspoon Room, you can come check out the different booths and displays set up by our Local and Global Mission Partners. We will have a variety of honor cards you can purchase to give to your loved ones and friends as Christmas cards and gifts. We also have tangible gift items such as candles and lip balm from Benevolence Farm, handcrafted items from Peru, and olive oil and creche sets from Palestine. The Witherspoon Room will be accessible on Sundays, December 5, 12, and 19 from 9:00-9:45 a.m. and 11:00-11:30 a.m. To view and print the order form, click here. Contact Charlotte Nance-Allbright for more information (callbright@fpcburllington.org or 336-228-1703 x 223).
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Taizé Worship – Sunday, December 5, 6:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary
An Advent Taizé worship on the second Sunday of Advent will be centered around the themes of hope, peace, joy and love. In times of reflection, song and silence, may you be greeted by One who offers us mercy, grace, forgiveness and love. This service will be in-person only.
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Lunch Bunch Book Club Rescheduled
Because of technical difficulties getting into Zoom on November 9, Book Club was canceled and the discussion of The Other Einstein was rescheduled for the regular meeting on Tuesday, December 14. We will meet at 12 noon IN PERSON in the John Knox Room to discuss the much anticipated book The Other Einstein. No Zoom meeting! What a treat — to resume our in-person gatherings with a book that stirs lots of thought and discussion!
Just a few reminders regarding the church’s COVID protocols: 1) If you wish, bring your lunch and a drink, dessert will be provided. We will not have any access to the kitchen, not even for water. 2) Wear a mask except when eating. 3) Enter the building by way of the black and white hall off the parking lot and come to the John Knox Room.
Small Group Inside Gatherings and Meetings at the Church may take place in person. Each meeting must be scheduled with Kathleen Seagroves in the church office (336-228-1703) and all established protocol followed, including social distancing and mask wearing.
2021 Flower Donations
Thank you to all who have donated flowers for our Sunday worship services! Floral donations are offered on a first come/first serve basis. If you would like to reserve a Sunday, please complete and submit the form attached here to Kathleen Seagroves in the church office. Thank you in advance for your donation!
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Children’s Ministry
November 28 at 11:15 a.m. Advent Sunday School for Children — Children Pre-K through 5th Grade: Stop by for some Advent Adventures on Sunday mornings! We will gather in Room 220 (Children’s Choir Room) for a time of music and take-home projects to make Advent come alive with our families. November 28: “Getting Ready” — We will create family Advent boxes to take home and use to celebrate all through the season of Advent.
Adult Classes in October:
The Enrichment Class — Wednesday Evenings at 7:00 p.m. via Zoom. The Enrichment class is open to any adults of any age wishing to attend. Since Covid began, we have been meeting on Zoom for the past year and a half. We are still meeting on Zoom and holding our classes on Wednesday evenings from 7:00-8:00 pm. Contact Jane Wellford (wellford@elon.edu) or Catherine Matthews (csnn4145@gmail.com) for more information. If you wish to join us on Wednesday evenings, please see the Zoom link on our website here.
John Knox Fellowship
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Sunday, November 28 — No Class
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December 5, 12, & 19 at 9:00 a.m. in the John Knox Room. "Christ in the Carols" led by Dr. Ron Cole-Turner. When we hear the music of Christmas, we find ourselves transported into a season of joy, rich with memories from the past and full of hopes for the future. In this advent series, we will listen again to the great carols of the Christian Church, like Joy to the World and Silent Night, Holy Night. On December 5, we will lift up the phrase, “a weary world rejoices,” as we think together about the special meaning of Christmas for our world this year, so weary with isolation and grief. On December 12, we will turn to carols like O Come, All Ye Faithful and Once in Royal David’s City, pondering the phrase “now in flesh appearing” as we reflect on the mystery of the incarnation. On December 19, we turn to Silent Night and to Hark! The Herald Angels Sing and to the phrase, “born to raise from the earth,” in order to ponder together how the coming of Christ raises in us the hope of sharing in the glory of Christmas.
Poetry Class, Sundays thru November 28 at 11:15 a.m. in Room 122 — William Butler Yeats (1865-1939): Selected Poems, Led by Dr. Harry Brown. This Irish writer is often recognized as the greatest poet in English in the twentieth century. His early poetry is “dreamy and melancholy, passive and self-indulgent,” lacking a sense of the solid outer world. Yeats became a symbolist; was interested in magic, the supernatural and the occult; and admired the aristocracy and peasantry more than the commercial middle class. He served as senator of the Irish Free State, helped found and develop the Abbey Theatre, and received a Nobel Prize. In his poetry Yeats sought unity—tried to unify physical and spiritual, art and nature, body and soul, real and ideal. We will use William Butler Yeats: Selected Poems and Four Plays, ed. M. L. Rosenthal. Fourth Edition. Scribner Paperback Poetry.
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Soul Collage ® Workshop
Wednesday, December 8
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon
Facilitated by Terri Burleson
Do you long for a creative outlet that will let you express your spiritual nature? Do you enjoy discovering your God-created person through the creative arts? Then this workshop will appeal to you. Soul Collage ®, developed by Seena B. Frost, MA, M.Div., is a method of self-discovery through the creation and intuitive analysis of a deck of card sized collages created by each participant. Involving art, creativity, self-awareness, journaling, meditation and personal growth, it is a process that facilitates a dialogue with the soul. Terri Burleson notes that “it is a wonderful technique with contemplative groups and is helpful in learning ways to incorporate the mind, heart and body to listen to the Spirit.” Terri, a member of the Contemplative Ministry team at Westover Presbyterian Church in Greensboro and a certified Soul Collage facilitator, will lead the workshop at our church. Look for additional information on registration in the FPC Thursday E-blasts or call Charlotte Allbright through the church office (336-228-1703) to sign up to participate.
Contemplative Ministry Fall and Mid-Winter 2021-22 Newsletter
The Contemplative Ministries Team has produced a newsletter with information about all of their upcoming events and offerings. You may read it here.
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Meals on Wheels is Our Local Mission for November
Alamance County Meals on Wheels is our mission focus for November. This agency offers hot nutritional home-delivered meals, frozen home-delivered meals, and winter weather emergency meals. The First Presbyterian Church of Burlington houses the offices of ACMOW. This agency serves over 300 people each day on 24 different hot and frozen meal routes. Please refer to the lists attached here — Food Pantry List and Birthday List — to see what supplementary food items and birthday treats you can contribute for the ACMOW clients. You may leave your donations in the box marked "Meals on Wheels Donations" by the CDC entrance.
Vitality and Joy! — A Letter from Melissa Johnson, Mission Co-Worker Serving in Zambia
Click here to read the letter from Melissa Johnson.
Furniture Ministry
The Furniture Ministry is open and we need your help! We especially need dishes, flatware, pots and pans, and lamps. Donations can be brought to the warehouse on Mondays from 1:00-4:00 p.m. We will also be picking up donations from church members and others on a selective case-by-case basis. Also, we need volunteers to sort and tag items in the warehouse and to assist with pick-ups. Contact us at 336-212-2937. Even during the downtime, the Furniture Ministry was able to serve 13 families, deliver eight beds and mattresses to Allied Churches, and pick up several donations of furniture. This unique First Presbyterian Ministry continues to bring vital assistance to our Alamance County brothers and sisters in Christ at their time of greatest need. Thank you for your support!
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Diane Barnwell ARMC 228
Heath Tuttle
Al Beck
Sue McCrone-Bradshaw
Mimi Cowan's sister Laurie Marion
Don Stadler
Patricia Johnson
Mary Lou Massie
Paul Reeves
Christian Sympathy is extended to Linda Scott following the death of her sister, Barbara Ann Blake, who died on November 11, 2021.
Christian Sympathy is extended to the family of Jean Parsons following her death on November 19, 2021.
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